Put Linux on a USB stick and boot and test the laptop from that prior to buying an SSD drive. Linux runs fine from a USB stick. Try Ubuntu Linux or Linux Mint. Use Rufus to create a bootable USB stick from a Linux ISO. An 8gb USB stick is large enough to do this.

If operating systems were like ice cream,
Windows would be vanilla, Linux would be 31Flavors.​

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Amazon has a department they call "Warehouse Deals" that re-sells customer returns, open box items, damaged box items, shelf worn items, and just one of a kind old stock, etc with the full Amazon warranty. If you are an Amazon Prime member (I am) everything in the "Warehouse Deals" department is eligible for the Prime 2-day free shipping.

They currently have several really good SSD drive deals there: (most are one of a kind)